Milk-can-lid fastener.



A. C. ECHARD & J. A. HUTCHISON. MILK CAN LID FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1911.

1,046.569. Patented Dec.10,1912.

16 1'1 JQL/ Sim 00111 065 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW C. ECHARD AND JOHN A. HUTGHISON, OF ALDERSCN, WEST VIRGINIA.

MILK-CAN-LID FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent -Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed August 9, 1911. Serial No. 643,253.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW C. ECHARD and J OHN A. HUTCHISON, residing at Alderson, in the county of Greenbrier and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Milk-Can-Lid Fasteners; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and erect description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in receptacle closures and is designed to construct a device of thls nature, wherein the closure will be removably locked to the can or receptacle.

Recently it has been the custom of railroads throughout the country to make rules whereby milk-cans will not be received by them for transportation without having the lids or closures of the latter locked to the body of the can, so that access may not be had thereto.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a can with a closure which will automatically engage the edges of the opening of the can and provide ameans whereby sai engaging members may be locked for movement or otherwise sealed.

Wi h the above and other urposes in view, this invention consists in t e const uction, combination and arrangements of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and wherein: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary s1de elevation thereof, illustrating the top of the can as secured to the body. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of a can constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The closure forming the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to cooperate with any milk can of a suitable and standard construction. The receptacles of the milk-cans in use at the present time comprise acircular lid having an inwardly extending flange adapted to bear against the neck of the can, said neck of the can being provided with a bead about the upper edges thereof. The catches which are embodied in the present invention are adapted to be carried by the central plate and spring illustrated in the drawings over and engage the-bead heretofore referred to. The lower terminal of each catch is bent upwardly to form a small loop, said loop providing a bearing for the sealing ring, and also a means whereby the catches may be released from the body of the can to remove the lid. A sealing ring of any suitable material, preferably, however, wire, is

inserted in these loops, the terminals thereof being secured together with a lead seal, such as is in use at the present. time.

Reference now being had more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicatesa milk can of the usual construction, being provided with the neck 11, said neck .having a bead 12 formed about the top thereof. A lid closure 13 having the inwardly extending vertical flange 1 1 is adapted to rest in the neck 12, and be attached thereto in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

The portion of the lid 13 which'projects beyond the flange 14 is provided with a plurality of rectangular orifices 15, through which rojec-t the strips of spring metal 16, sai stri 5 being rlveted to the top of the lid 13. he portion of the spring metal strips 16 which projects through the orifices 15 is provided with outwardly bentor convex portions 17, which are adapted to spring over and engage the bead 12 of the neck 11 of the can 10. Free terminals of the spring catchBS formed by the strips of metal 16 are bent upon themselves to form the small loops 18, which provide a means whereby the spring catches may be disengaged from the bead 12. A sealing ring" of wire or other suitable material 19 passes through the loops 18, and has the terminals thereof secured together by the seal 20.

It'will be understood from the foregoing, that by placing the lid 13 on the receptacle, the convex portion 17 of the catches 16 will automatically engage the bead 12 and lock the lid to thereceptacle. It will further be seen that by the provision of the sealing ring 19, and the seal 20 the lid may not be removed without breaking the seal and notifying the receiver that said can has been opened.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a closure of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, of a bead formed about the upper edge thereof, a closure cooperating with the said receptacle,

v extremity,

and spring catches projecting through said closure adapted to engage said bead.

2. In a closure of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, a bead formed about the upper edge thereof, of a closure adapted to seat on said receptacle, spring catches carried by said closure for engaging the receptacle interiorly of said bead, and locking said closure to the receptacle aforesaid, loops carried by said catches adapted to receive a sealing device and also providing means whereby said catches may be removed from engagement with the receptacle vaforesaid.

3.. In a closure of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, a bead formed about the upper edge thereof, of a closure adapted to seat on said receptacle, a plurality of rectangular openings adjacent to the periphery of said closure, resilient metallic strips rigidly secured at one to the upper part of said closure, the free ends thereof extending through ceptacle aforesaid.

said respective openings, inbent and adapted to extend between the bead and the receptacle, and said strips formed with apertures adapted to receive a sealing wire to bind said strips to said bead and hold the closure in closed relation to the receptacle.

l. In a closure of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, of a closure adapted to seat on said receptacle, a substantially horizontal flange formed about said closure,spring catches carried by said closure adapted to project through said flange and engage said receptacle, and beads formed at the terminals of said catches for the removal thereof from engagement with the rep In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREWV C. ECHARD. JOHN A. HUTCHISON. lVitnesses:

C. E. ELLIS, F. I. Rows.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 'five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents Washington, D. G. i 

